What are the side effects of pomegranate juice?

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According to WebMD, pomegranate juice is safe for most people who are not allergic to pomegranates and has no side effects. Those who are allergic or sensitive to pomegranates may experience difficulty breathing, itching, runny nose and swelling, though these side effects are more commonly seen when pomegranate is applied to the skin. Pomegranates and pomegranate juice can affect blood pressure and should be avoided prior to surgery.

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The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that pomegranates and pomegranate juice appear to interact with ACE inhibitors, other blood pressure medication, statin drugs and blood-thinners. ACE inhibitors treat high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney damage and include such drugs as benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril and ramipril. The high level of antioxidants in pomegranate juice appears to have the same effects on the body as these drugs and may therefore make the ACE inhibitors too strong.

Pomegranate juice has also shown rare instances of interacting with statin drugs used to lower cholesterol, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The combination of statin drugs and pomegranate juice may cause a breakdown of muscle tissue and kidney damage. Anyone taking a statin should consult a doctor before drinking pomegranate juice. In addition, pomegranate juice may react to warfarin, a drug used to thin blood, in much the same way as grapefruit juice and should be avoided by those taking the drug.